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Studio: Image Entertainment
Year: 2009
Cast: Mike Vogel, Brittany Murphy, Danny Pino
Director: Alex Merkin
Release Date: January 19, 2010
Rating: R for (language throughout)
Run Time: 01h:33m:11s
Genre(s): suspense thriller
ìI want to make him pay for it.î - Terry (Danny Pino)
I've heard decent rumblings about this potentially twisty thriller, and the presence of Brittany Murphy doesn't exactly hurt its cause.
Movie Grade: B-
DVD Grade: B
My screener copy of Across the Hall arrived more than a month prior to star Brittany Murphyís
shocking and untimely death at the too-young age of 32. While it is truly sad to lose someone so young, it proved
beneficial that I waited to give this film a look until after her passing. The DVD packaging, and my research on the
film screamed of a standard, by-the-numbers thriller. But, given Murphyís presence in the film, it carried a much
different dynamic than if I had watched it before this tragedy occurred. Just a warning, though, there are moments
during Across the Hall, involving Murphy that might be a bit too disturbing to watch so soon after her death. Film
experience-wise, these scenes add to the storyís impact, but in at the high cost of serving as a reminder of her sad
recent death.
One never truly knows what happens in the closed confines of a hotel room. Weíre given a rare glimpse at the
happenings inside two of them, as Terry (Danny Pino) has holed himself up in a room across the hall from another
room where he suspects his fiancÈe, June (Murphy), of having an affair. Terry calls his best friend, Julian (Mike
Vogel) hinting of murderous intentions. Julian quickly heads to Terryís room in an attempt to talk him out of using
the gun heís loaded, and it isnít long before the game totally changes and deeper, darker secrets are revealed.
It becomes abundantly clear, once the credits finished rolling, that this is one of those flicks that, by the halfway
point, youíre praying it resolves its ultra-twisty plot in a satisfying way. Itís one of those go-for-broke plots where
the movie simply has no redeeming value whatsoever if the end isnít tidy and engaging. In this case, a whole lot of
nothing happens for the first hour and fifteen minutes. Instead of action and suspense, we get a lot of pacing in
hotel rooms, slow walking amongst the hall, and seemingly-endless cell phone conversations. Yes, this is yet
another modern cinematic thriller that uses a cell phoneís ringtone as a means to tip off a pursuer. Seriously, has
any screenwriter been made aware of a cell phoneís ìSilentî feature?! By the time we reach the ending weíre just
ready for something, anything to happen.
Fortunately, that ìsomething,î that ìanythingî is worth the wait, as the finale overcomes a ridiculously predictable
twist at the one-hour mark. All signs during the first hour point to this plot development, but, after shaking your
head and screaming ìI knew it!î over and over again, you can rest assured that the last fifteen minutes will be
interesting to say the least. Itís actually quite clever the way director Alex Merkin closes his film, leaving very few
unanswered questions, and making the final twist totally plausible and fulfilling. This is far more compelling stuff
than most of these direct-to-DVD thrillers deliver, and hereís hoping that Murphyís presence, despite the
circumstances, delivers a wider audience than Across the Hall would have normally garnered.
The acting is mostly hit-or-miss, with the two male leads doing their fair share of overacting at times, but they do
have their moments and keep their dynamic characters believable. Still, most of the curiosity will lie in Brittany
Murphyís performance, and, sadly, she isnít asked to do much. Her character is an integral part of the story, but
this is clearly Vogel and Pinoís movie. During her limited screen time, Murphy does a fine job with what sheís given
to do, elevating Across the Hall to more than simply a curiosity. Image Entertainmentís disc is a fine effort, with
solid audio and video transfers, and a nice featurette-filled extras collection to boot.
Posted by: Chuck Aliaga - January 17, 2010, 8:25 am - DVD Review
Keywords: secrets, murderous brink, surprising twist
